Shanghai Expo: Bamboo German-Chinese House Glows Like a Lantern

Seen over at Arch Daily this morning, Germany and China’s captivating German-Chinese House for the Shanghai World expo is a study in bamboo. The two story art building is the only pavilion in the Expo to utilize the extremely renewable and fast growing material as a load-bearing structure. Designed by Markus Heinsdorff in collaboration with MUDI, the art pavilion is the crowning achievement in the two countries’ event series, “Germany and China – Moving Ahead Together.”

The event series focuses on the theme of sustainable urbanism and features many artistic encounters like this delicate bamboo pavilion, which exhibit both natural and high tech characteristics. Bamboo poles, which are both lightweight and strong, are a renewable resource because bamboo grows so quickly and can be harvested without killing the tree. The connections for the structure are high-tech joints made of steel set in concrete with a high fly ash concentration and can easily be dismantled when the Expo is over.

Lightweight EFTE material covers the inside of the pavilion, which lets in a small amount of light during the day and looks like a glowing lantern at night. Inside, the large hall includes exhibition, game and conference areas and the furnishings are made of laminated bamboo. The pavilion is also completely mobile and can easily be taken down and relocated at the end of the Expo. All the materials are either reusable or completely recyclable.